Electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The first electrode includes a first boundary side extending in a direction. The second electrode includes a second boundary side extending in the direction. The third electrode is disposed between and spaced apart from the first electrode and the second electrode. The third electrode includes a first side facing the first boundary side and a second side facing the second boundary. The first side and the second side have shapes that are asymmetric to each other with respect to a center axis extending in the direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/306,773, filed May 3, 2021, which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/672,892, filed Nov. 4, 2019, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,996,804, which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/964,449, filed Apr. 27, 2018, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,466,823, which claims priority to and the benefit ofKorean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0069828, filed Jun. 5, 2017, eachof which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully setforth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

The disclosure generally relates to an electronic device, and, moreparticularly, to an electronic device with high touch sensitivity andhigh visibility.

Discussion

An electronic device may be activated by an electrical signal. Someelectronic devices may include a touch panel, which is configured tosense a variety of inputs applied from the outside. To improve userconvenience, the touch panel may be used alone or in conjunction with adisplay device for displaying an image. Typically, the electronic deviceincludes a plurality of electrode patterns to which electrical signalsfor activating the electronic device are applied. A region in which theelectrode patterns applied with the electrical signals are provided maybe used to display information or to respond to a touch applied from theoutside.

The above information disclosed in this section is only forunderstanding the background of the inventive concepts, and, therefore,may contain information that does not form prior art.

SUMMARY

Some exemplary embodiments are capable of providing an electronic devicehaving high touch sensitivity regardless of its shape.

Some exemplary embodiments are capable of providing an electronic devicethat is configured to prevent (or at least reduce) the presence of asensor from being recognized by a user through reflection of externallight.

Additional aspects will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows, and, in part, will be apparent from the disclosure, or may belearned by practice of the inventive concepts.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an electronic device includes afirst electrode, a second electrode, and an third electrode. The firstelectrode includes a first boundary side extending in a direction. Thesecond electrode includes a second boundary side extending in thedirection and facing the first boundary side. The second electrode isspaced apart from the first electrode in an intersecting directioncrossing the direction and is electrically disconnected from the firstsensor electrode. The third electrode is disposed between the firstboundary side and the second boundary side, and is spaced apart from thefirst electrode and the second electrode. The third electrode includes afirst side facing the first boundary side and a second side facing thesecond boundary side. At least one of the first side and the second sideincludes a plurality of protruding patterns spaced apart from each otherin the direction. The first side and the second side have shapes thatare asymmetric to each other with respect to a center axis extending inthe direction.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an electrode device includes afirst sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor includes a pluralityof sensor electrodes that are spaced apart from each other in a firstdirection and are electrically connected to each other. The secondsensor includes a plurality of sensor electrodes that are spaced apartfrom each other in a second direction crossing the first direction andare electrically connected to each other. Each of the plurality ofsensor electrodes of one of the first sensor and the second sensorincludes a sensor part and a floating pattern portion. The sensor partis adjacent to another sensor electrode of the plurality of sensorelectrodes. The floating portion is spaced apart from the another sensorelectrode with the sensor part disposed therebetween. The floatingportion is electrically disconnected from the sensor part.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concepts, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts, and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the electronic device ofFIG. 1 according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of FIG. 2according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are plan views each illustrating a portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 3A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are plan views each illustrating some auxiliaryelectrodes according to various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a plan view illustrating a portion of the structure shown inFIG. 5A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views illustrating touch structures accordingto some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of the structureshown in FIG. 6A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 7B and 7C are plan views illustrating portions of the structureshown in FIG. 7A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 7D is a plan view illustrating a portion of an electronic deviceaccording to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of the electronicdevice shown in FIG. 6A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are enlarged plan views illustrating a region XX′ shownin FIG. 8A according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a portion of electrode patterns shownin FIG. 8B according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are enlarged plan views illustrating a region ofan electronic device according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic deviceaccording to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 13A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of theelectronic device shown in FIG. 12 according to some exemplaryembodiments.

FIG. 13B is a sectional view taken along sectional line I-I′ of FIG. 13Aaccording to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 14A is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 14B is a timing diagram illustrating a variation of a drivingsignal for operating the electronic device shown in FIG. 14A accordingto some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are block diagrams illustrating an operation of anelectronic device in a mode according to some exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are block diagrams illustrating an operation of anelectronic device in a mode according to some exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however,that various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. In otherinstances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagramform in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various exemplaryembodiments. Further, various exemplary embodiments may be different,but do not have to be exclusive. For example, specific shapes,configurations, and characteristics of an exemplary embodiment may beimplemented in another exemplary embodiment without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someexemplary embodiments. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, thefeatures, components, modules, layers, films, panels, regions, aspects,etc. (hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as“elements”), of the various illustrations may be otherwise combined,separated, interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or“coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected to, orcoupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.When, however, an element is referred to as being “directly on,”“directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, thereare no intervening elements present. To this end, the term “connected”may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection. For thepurposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at leastone selected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construedas X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y,and Z, such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, theterm “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, these elements should not be limited by theseterms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from anotherelement. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a secondelement without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one element's relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrationsof idealized exemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular illustrated shapes of regions,but are to include deviations in shapes that result from, for instance,manufacturing. In this manner, regions illustrated in the drawings areschematic in nature and shapes of these regions may not illustrate theactual shapes of regions of a device, and, as such, are not intended tobe limiting.

As customary in the field, some exemplary embodiments are described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in terms of functional blocks,units, and/or modules. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthese blocks, units, and/or modules are physically implemented byelectronic (or optical) circuits, such as logic circuits, discretecomponents, microprocessors, hard-wired circuits, memory elements,wiring connections, and the like, which may be formed usingsemiconductor-based fabrication techniques or other manufacturingtechnologies. In the case of the blocks, units, and/or modules beingimplemented by microprocessors or other similar hardware, they may beprogrammed and controlled using software (e.g., microcode) to performvarious functions discussed herein and may optionally be driven byfirmware and/or software. It is also contemplated that each block, unit,and/or module may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or as acombination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and aprocessor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associatedcircuitry) to perform other functions. Also, each block, unit, and/ormodule of some exemplary embodiments may be physically separated intotwo or more interacting and discrete blocks, units, and/or moduleswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts.Further, the blocks, units, and/or modules of some exemplary embodimentsmay be physically combined into more complex blocks, units, and/ormodules without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiveconcepts.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

As customary in the field, some exemplary embodiments are described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in terms of functional blocks,units, and/or modules. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatthese blocks, units, and/or modules are physically implemented byelectronic (or optical) circuits, such as logic circuits, discretecomponents, microprocessors, hard-wired circuits, memory elements,wiring connections, and the like, which may be formed usingsemiconductor-based fabrication techniques or other manufacturingtechnologies. In the case of the blocks, units, and/or modules beingimplemented by microprocessors or other similar hardware, they may beprogrammed and controlled using software (e.g., microcode) to performvarious functions discussed herein and may optionally be driven byfirmware and/or software. It is also contemplated that each block, unit,and/or module may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or as acombination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and aprocessor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associatedcircuitry) to perform other functions. Also, each block, unit, and/ormodule of some exemplary embodiments may be physically separated intotwo or more interacting and discrete blocks, units, and/or moduleswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts.Further, the blocks, units, and/or modules of some exemplary embodimentsmay be physically combined into more complex blocks, units, and/ormodules without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiveconcepts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 2 is a plan viewillustrating a portion of the electronic device of FIG. 1 according tosome exemplary embodiments. Hereinafter, an electronic device 1000 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The electronic device 1000 may be configured to sense a touch TC appliedfrom the outside. The touch TC may include various inputs that areprovided to the electronic device 1000 from the outside. For example,the touch TC may include various types of an external input, such as atleast one of a part of a user's body, a stylus pen, light, heat, andpressure. For convenience, a user's finger is illustrated and describedas an example of the touch TC.

The electronic device 1000 may also be configured to sense a touch,which may occur when an object (e.g., a finger) is in contact with oradjacent to the electronic device 1000 or approaches the electronicdevice 1000. The electronic device 1000 may be configured to sensevarious types of input, but the inventive concepts are not limited toany specific one.

The electronic device 1000 may be divided into an active region AA and aperipheral region NAA, when viewed in a plan view, e.g., when viewed ina direction normal to a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2.The active region AA may be activated to sense an external touch when,for instance, an electrical signal is applied thereto.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the active region AA may bedefined to overlap a center of the electronic device 1000. However, theinventive concepts are not limited to this example. For example, incertain exemplary embodiments, depending on the usage mode of theelectronic device 1000, the active region AA may be defined to be closerto an edge or a side of the electronic device 1000.

The peripheral region NAA may be defined to be adjacent to the activeregion AA, such as outside the active region AA. The electronic device1000 may not detect an external touch applied to the peripheral regionNAA.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the peripheral region NAA isdefined in the form of a frame surrounding the active region AA.However, the inventive concepts are not limited to this example, and theperipheral region NAA may have various shapes. In certain exemplaryembodiments, the entire top surface of the electronic device 1000 may bedefined as the active region AA, and the peripheral region NAA may beomitted.

The electronic device 1000 may include a base structure 100 and a touchstructure 200. The base structure 100 may be used as a base layer onwhich the touch structure 200 is provided. For example, the basestructure 100 may be an insulating substrate or an insulating film thatis formed of an insulating material (e.g., at least one of glass and apolymer resin). In the case where the base structure 100 is aninsulating substrate, the electronic device 1000 may have an increasedhardness. In the case where the base structure 100 is an insulatingfilm, the electronic device 1000 may have increased flexibility.

The base structure 100 may be a multi-layered structure in which aplurality of organic layers and/or a plurality of inorganic layers arestacked. This may allow the electronic device 1000 to have a slimstructure. However, the inventive concepts are not limited to theaforementioned examples. For instance, the structure of the basestructure 100 may be variously changed in an embodiment of the inventiveconcepts.

The touch structure 200 may be provided on one of various surfaces ofthe base structure 100. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the touchstructure 200 is provided on a top surface of the base structure 100,but the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. For example, incertain exemplary embodiments, the touch structure 200 may be providedon a bottom surface of the base structure 100. In other exemplaryembodiments, the touch structure may be provided on more than onesurface of the base structure 100, such as the top and bottom surfacesof the base structure 100.

A touch applied from the outside may be mainly sensed by the touchstructure 200. The touch structure 200 may include a plurality of firstelectrodes SP1 (below, first sensor electrodes SP1), a plurality ofsecond electrodes SP2 (below, second sensor electrodes SP2), a pluralityof first interconnection lines SL1, a plurality of secondinterconnection lines SL2, a plurality of first pads PD1, and aplurality of second pads PD2.

The first sensor electrodes SP1 may be arranged in the first directionDR1. The first sensor electrodes SP1 may be provided to form a pluralityof rows arranged in the second direction DR2. The first sensorelectrodes SP1 in each row may be electrically connected to each otherthrough first connecting portions (not shown), thereby constituting afirst sensor SS1. Accordingly, the first sensors SS1 may be arranged inthe second direction DR2 and each of them may extend in the firstdirection DR1.

The second sensor electrodes SP2 may be arranged in the second directionDR2. The second sensor electrodes SP2 may be provided to form aplurality of columns arranged in the first direction DR1. The secondsensor electrodes SP2 in each column may be electrically connected toeach other through second connecting portions (not shown), therebyconstituting a second sensor SS2. Accordingly, the second sensors SS2may be arranged in the first direction DR1, and each of them may extendin the second direction DR2.

The number of the first sensor electrodes SP1 may be the same as ordifferent from that of the second sensor electrodes SP2. The numbers ofthe first and second sensor electrodes SP1 and SP2 may be variouslychanged depending on a shape and an area of the active region AA.

The first and second sensors SS1 and SS2 may be provided to cross eachother and may be electrically disconnected from each other, e.g.,electrically insulated from one another. A variation in self-capacitanceof each of the first and second sensors SS1 and SS2 or inmutual-capacitance between the first and second sensors SS1 and SS2 maybe used to sense a touch applied from the outside. The active region AAmay be a region in which the first and second sensor electrodes SP1 andSP2 are arranged.

The first and second interconnection lines SL1 and SL2 may be connectedto the first and second sensors SS1 and SS2, respectively. The firstinterconnection lines SL1 may be connected to respective ones of thefirst sensors SS1 that are respectively provided at ends of the firstsensors SS1, and the second interconnection lines SL2 may be connectedto respective ones of the second sensors SS2 that are respectivelyprovided at ends of the second sensors SS2.

The first pads PD1 may be connected to the first interconnection linesSL1, respectively, and the second pads PD2 may be connected to thesecond interconnection lines SL2, respectively. The first pads PD1 andthe second pads PD2 may be electrically connected to a driving part (notshown) that is provided at the outside of the touch structure 200. Thedriving part may be configured to transmit or receive electrical signalsto or from the touch structure 200 through the first and second pads PD1and PD2. The electrical signals may include driving and power signalsthat are applied to the touch structure 200, and a sensing signal thatis transmitted from the touch structure 200.

The first and second pads PD1 and PD2 are illustrated as being arrangedin a line in the first direction DR1, but in some exemplary embodiments,the first and second pads PD1 and PD2 may be alternately arranged or maybe arranged in a partially separated manner. In certain exemplaryembodiments, the first and second pads PD1 and PD2 may be located atvarious positions of the touch structure 200, thereby forming variousarrangements.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 1000 may furtherinclude a plurality of third electrodes IMP (below, auxiliary electrodeIMP). The auxiliary electrodes IMP may be arranged between the first andsecond sensor electrodes SP1 and SP2.

Each of the auxiliary electrodes IMP may be arranged between the firstand second sensor electrodes SP1 and SP2. Each of the auxiliaryelectrodes IMP may be electrically disconnected from not only the firstsensor electrodes SP1 but also the second sensor electrodes SP2. Theauxiliary electrodes IMP may be floating electrodes to which additionalelectrical signals from the outside are not applied. Accordingly,additional signal lines connected to the auxiliary electrodes IMP maynot be provided.

Each of the auxiliary electrodes IMP may include a side, which isprovided to face the first sensor electrodes SP1, and another side,which is provided to face the second sensor electrodes SP2. Here, theside facing the first sensor electrodes SP1 may have a shape differentfrom the another side facing the second sensor electrodes SP2. This willbe described in more detail below.

According to some exemplary embodiments, each of the first and secondsensor electrodes SP1 and SP2 may include boundary sides, which arefittingly coupled with sides of each of the auxiliary electrodes IMP.Accordingly, a pair of the first and second sensor electrode SP1 andSP2, which face each other with the auxiliary electrode IMP interposedtherebetween, may include sides having different shapes. This will bedescribed in more detail below.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device 1000 mayinclude the auxiliary electrodes IMP, each of which has two sides ofdifferent shapes. Since the auxiliary electrodes IMP are furtherprovided in the electronic device 1000, it may be possible to improvethe invisibility and touch sensitivity of the touch structure 200. Thiswill be described in more detail below.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of FIG. 2according to some exemplary embodiments, and FIGS. 3B and 3C are planviews each illustrating a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 3Aaccording to some exemplary embodiments. For instance, FIG. 3Aillustrates a region in which a pair of first sensor electrodes SP1_Aand SP1_B and a pair of second sensor electrodes SP2_A and SP2_B arearranged. Here, the first sensor electrodes SP1_A and SP1_B may be twoamong the first sensor electrodes SP1 (e.g., see FIG. 2) that areconnected to each other, and the second sensor electrodes SP2_A andSP2_B may be two among the second sensor electrodes SP2 (e.g., see FIG.2) that are electrically disconnected from the first sensor electrodesSP1_A and SP1_B.

Hereinafter, the electronic device 1000 (e.g., of FIG. 1) according tosome exemplary embodiments will be described with respect to FIGS. 3A to3C. For concise description, an element previously described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may be identified by a similar or identicalreference number without repeating an overlapping description thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the pair of the first sensor electrodes SP1_A andSP1_B may include a left first sensor electrode SP1_A and a right firstsensor electrode SP1_B that are connected to each other in the firstdirection DR1, and the pair of the second sensor electrodes SP2_A andSP2_B may include an upper second sensor electrode SP2_A and a lowersecond sensor electrode SP2_B that are connected to each other in thesecond direction DR2. The left first sensor electrode SP1_A and theright first sensor electrode SP1_B may be connected to each otherthrough a first connecting portion CP1 extending in the first directionDR1.

The upper second sensor electrode SP2_A and the lower second sensorelectrode SP2_B may be connected to each other through a secondconnecting portion CP2 extending in the second direction DR2. In someexemplary embodiments, the first connecting portion CP1 may be providedon the same layer as that for the left first sensor electrode SP1_A andthe right first sensor electrode SP1_B, and may be provided in the formof a single body with the left first sensor electrode SP1_A and theright first sensor electrode SP1_B.

The second connecting portion CP2 may be provided to cross over (e.g.,overlap) the first connecting portion CP1 and may be electricallydisconnected from the first connecting portion CP1, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. For example, in certain exemplaryembodiments, the second connecting portion CP2 may be provided below thefirst connecting portion CP1 or may be provided on the same layer asthat for the upper second sensor electrode SP2_A and the lower secondsensor electrode SP2_B to form a single body with the upper secondsensor electrode SP2_A and the lower second sensor electrode SP2_B. Evenin such exemplary embodiments, the first connecting portion CP1 may beprovided to cross the second connecting portion CP2 and may beelectrically disconnected from the second connecting portion CP2.

The auxiliary electrodes IMP (e.g., see FIG. 2) may be placed betweenrespective pairs of four sensor electrodes SP1_A, SP1_B, SP2_A, andSP2_B. In some exemplary embodiments, the auxiliary electrodes IMP mayinclude first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP_A, IMP_B, IMP_C, andIMP_D, which are arranged in a clockwise direction.

For convenience, FIG. 3B illustrates the first auxiliary electrode IMP_Aas an example of the auxiliary electrodes IMP. As shown in FIG. 3B, thefirst auxiliary electrode IMP_A may be an auxiliary electrode that isplaced between a first boundary side SP1_BS1 of the right first sensorelectrode SP1_B and a first boundary side SP2_BS1 of the upper secondsensor electrode SP2_A.

The first auxiliary electrode IMP_A may extend in a third direction DR3,thereby having a length defined in the third direction DR3 and a widthdefined in a fourth direction DR4. The first auxiliary electrode IMP_Amay include a first side S1 and a second side S2 that extend in thethird direction DR3 and face each other.

The first side S1 may be a side adjacent to the right first sensorelectrode SP1_B. The second side S2 may be a side adjacent to the uppersecond sensor electrode SP2_A. Accordingly, the first side S1 may be aside facing the first boundary side SP1_BS1 of the right first sensorelectrode SP1_B, and the second side S2 may be a side facing the firstboundary side SP2_BS1 of the upper second sensor electrode SP2_A.

A width of the first auxiliary electrode IMP_A may vary along the thirddirection DR3. For example, the first auxiliary electrode IMP_A may havea first width d1 at a specific position, and may have a second width d2at another position that is spaced apart from the specific position by afirst width d1 in the third direction DR3. The variation in width of thefirst auxiliary electrode IMP_A in the third direction DR3 may bedependent on a shape of each of the first and second sides S1 and S2.

A center axis CX may be defined in the first auxiliary electrode IMP_A.The center axis CX may be a straight line extending in the thirddirection DR3. The center axis CX may pass through the first auxiliaryelectrode IMP_A. Considering that the first auxiliary electrode IMP_Ahas the varying width, the center axis CX may be defined to pass throughcenters of portions having the minimum width. Accordingly, the centeraxis CX may pass through centers of portions whose width is the firstwidth d1.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first auxiliary electrode IMP_A mayhave an asymmetric shape with respect to the center axis CX. Here,symmetry means linear symmetry. For the purposes of this disclosure, thesymmetry means symmetry that is viewed in the entirety of the firstauxiliary electrode IMP_A, not symmetry at a specific position.

The first auxiliary electrode IMPA may be divided into a first portionP1 and a second portion P2 with respect to the center axis CX. The firstportion P1 and the second portion P2 may have asymmetric shapes to eachother with respect to the center axis CX. For instance, the firstportion P1 may include the first side S1, and the second portion P2 mayinclude the second side S2. The first side S1 may have a shape differentfrom that of the second side S2.

At least one of the first side S1 and the second side S2 may include aplurality of protruding patterns. In some exemplary embodiments, each ofthe first side S1 and the second side S2 may include first protrudingpatterns RP-S1 and second protruding patterns RP-S2.

The first protruding patterns RP-S1 may be patterns protruding in adirection from the center axis CX toward the right first sensorelectrode SP1_B. The first protruding patterns RP-S1 may have a firstpitch PT1. The first protruding patterns RP-S1 may be repeated in thethird direction DR3 every first pitch PT1.

The second protruding patterns RP-S2 may be patterns protruding towardthe upper second sensor electrode SP2_A. The second protruding patternsRP-S2 may be arranged to have a second pitch PT2. The second protrudingpatterns RP-S2 may be repeated in the third direction DR3 every secondpitch PT2.

The first pitch PT1 and the second pitch PT2 may be different from eachother. In some exemplary embodiments, the first pitch PT1 may be smallerthan the second pitch PT2. As such, the first portion P1 may haveportions whose width is different from a width of portions of the secondportion P2. For example, a third width d3 and a fourth width d4 may bedifferent from each other, even when the third and fourth widths d3 andd4 are measured from the same position of the center axis CX in thethird direction DR3. Accordingly, first protruding patterns RP-S1 andsecond protruding patterns RP-S2 may be provided to be asymmetric withrespect to the center axis CX.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the first portion P1 and thesecond portion P2 may have areas (e.g., surface areas) different fromeach other. Since the first auxiliary electrode IMP_A according to anembodiment of the inventive concept includes the first portion P1 andthe second portion P2 that are different from each other in their pitch,shape, and area, it may be possible to realize an asymmetric shape withrespect to the center axis CX.

In FIG. 3C, only the right first sensor electrode SP1_B and the uppersecond sensor electrode SP2_A are exemplarily illustrated. As shown inFIG. 3C, boundary sides of each of the right first sensor electrodeSP1_B and the upper second sensor electrode SP2_A may have a shape thatis engaged with the first side S1 or the second side S2 of a neighboringauxiliary electrode.

For example, the right first sensor electrode SP1_B may have first tofourth boundary sides SP1_BS1, SP1_B52, SP1_BS3, and SP1_BS4, each ofwhich has a shape that can be engaged with the first side S1. Also, theupper second sensor electrode SP2_A may have first to fourth boundarysides SP2_BS1, SP2_BS2, SP2_BS3, and SP2_BS4, each of which has a shapethat can be engaged with the second side S2.

Accordingly, the right first sensor electrode SP1_B and the upper secondsensor electrode SP2_A, which are provided adjacent to each other withthe center axis CX interposed therebetween, may include boundary sidesof different shapes. For instance, the first boundary side SP1_BS1 ofthe right first sensor electrode SP1_B and the first boundary sideSP2_BS1 of the upper second sensor electrode SP2_A, which are providedadjacent to each other with the center axis CX of the first auxiliaryelectrode IMP_A interposed therebetween, may have shapes that areasymmetric to each other with respect to the center axis CX.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an electronic device mayfurther include an auxiliary electrode having various shapes, and theauxiliary electrode between adjacent sensor electrodes may be designedin such a way that its two sides facing the sensor electrodes havedifferent shapes. Furthermore, the shape of the auxiliary electrode maybe designed to allow boundary sides of the sensor electrodes to havevarious shapes. Accordingly, it may be possible to increase a degree offreedom in designing the shape of the sensor electrodes.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are plan views each illustrating some auxiliaryelectrodes according to various exemplary embodiments. Hereinafter,various shapes of auxiliary electrodes IMP_1, IMP_2, and IMP_3 will bedescribed with respect to FIGS. 4A to 4C.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the auxiliary electrode IMP_1 may include a firstportion P1-1 and a second portion P2-1 that are asymmetric with respectto the center axis CX. The first portion P1-1 may include a first sideS1-1 including a plurality of first protruding patterns RP-S11, and thesecond portion P2-1 may include a second side S2-1 including a pluralityof second protruding patterns RP-S21.

The first protruding patterns RP-S11 and the second protruding patternsRP-S21 may be provided to have the same pitch. In other words, a firstpitch PT1-1 of the first protruding patterns RP-S11 may be substantiallyequal to a second pitch PT2-1 of the second protruding patterns RP-S21.However, the first protruding patterns RP-S11 and the second protrudingpatterns RP-S21 may be different from each other in terms of theirprotruding lengths. For instance, the first protruding patterns RP-S11may have protruding lengths shorter than the second protruding patternsRP-S21. The first portion P1-1 and the second portion P2-1 may havedifferent areas (e.g., surface areas) from each other.

According to some exemplary embodiments, since the auxiliary electrodeIMP_1 includes the first portion P1-1 and the second portion P2-1 thatare designed to have the same pitch but different areas, it may bepossible to realize the auxiliary electrode IMP_1 having an asymmetricshape with respect to the center axis CX.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the auxiliary electrode IMP_2 may include a firstportion P1-2 and a second portion P2-2 that are asymmetric with respectto the center axis CX. The first portion P1-2 may include a first sideS1-2 including a plurality of first protruding patterns RP-S12, and thesecond portion P2-2 may include a second side S2-2 including a pluralityof second protruding patterns RP-S22.

The first protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protruding patternsRP-S22 may have substantially the same pitch. In other words, a firstpitch PT1-2 of the first protruding patterns RP-S12 may be substantiallyequal to a second pitch PT2-2 of the second protruding patterns RP-S22.Also, the first protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protrudingpatterns RP-S22 may have the same protruding length. The first portionP1-2 and the second portion P2-2 may have substantially the same area.However, the first protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protrudingpatterns RP-S22 may be arranged to be misaligned with each other (e.g.,not to have linear symmetry to each other with respect to the centeraxis CX) or offset from one another. In some exemplary embodiments, thefirst protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protruding patternsRP-S22 may be provided in such a way that they are not overlapped witheach other in the fourth direction DR4. For instance, when the auxiliaryelectrode IMP_2 is folded in half with respect to the center axis CX,the first protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protruding patternsRP-S22 may not overlap one another. In some exemplary embodiments,however, the first protruding patterns RP-S12 and the second protrudingpatterns RP-S22 may partially overlap with one another.

Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, the auxiliary electrodeIMP_2 may include the first portion P1-2 and the second portion P2-2,which are provided to have the same pitch and the same area, and inwhich protruding patterns are designed to include parts that areasymmetric to each other. As such, it may be possible to realize theauxiliary electrode IMP_2 having an asymmetric shape with respect to thecenter axis CX.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the auxiliary electrode IMP_3 may include a firstportion P1-3 and a second portion P2-3 that are asymmetric with respectto the center axis CX. The second portion P2-3 may include a second sideS2-3 including a plurality of second protruding patterns RP-S23. Thesecond protruding patterns RP-S23 may be sequentially arranged with apitch PT2-3 in the third direction DR3. The first portion P1-3, however,may not have a protruding pattern. The first portion P1-3 may include afirst side S1-3 extending in the third direction DR3 and having astraight line shape. Accordingly, the first portion P1-3 and the secondportion P2-3 may be asymmetric to each other with respect to the centeraxis CX.

In some exemplary embodiments, by variously controlling the shapes ofthe first and second portions P1-3 and P2-3, the auxiliary electrodesmay be designed to have asymmetric sides with respect to the center axisCX. According to some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device mayinclude auxiliary electrodes having various shapes, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited to any one of such embodiments.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments, and FIG. 5B is a planview illustrating a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 5A accordingto some exemplary embodiments. For convenience in illustration, FIG. 5Aillustrates a region corresponding to that of FIG. 3A.

In FIG. 5A, left and right first sensor electrodes SP1-1_A and SP1-1_B,which are connected to each other, and upper and lower second sensorelectrodes SP2-1A and SP2-1_B, which cross the two first sensorelectrodes SP1-1_A and SP1-1_B in an electrically disconnected manner,are exemplarily illustrated.

The auxiliary electrodes IMP-1_A, IMP-1_B, IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_D may beplaced between respective pairs of four sensor electrodes SP1-1A,SP1-1_B, SP2-1A, and SP2-1_B. The auxiliary electrodes IMP-1_A, IMP-1_B,IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_D may include first to fourth auxiliary electrodesIMP-1_A, IMP-1_B, IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_D that are arranged in a clockwisedirection.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the first to fourth auxiliaryelectrodes IMP-1_A, IMP-1_B, IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_D may be provided to berotatable. For instance, the second auxiliary electrode IMP-1_B may beprovided to be rotationally symmetric with respect to the firstauxiliary electrode IMP-1_A by 90°, the third auxiliary electrodeIMP-1_C may be provided to be rotationally symmetric with respect to thefirst auxiliary electrode IMP-1_A by 180°, and the fourth auxiliaryelectrode IMP-1_D may be provided to be rotationally symmetric withrespect to the first auxiliary electrode IMP-1_A by 270°. In thismanner, sides of the first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-1_A,IMP-1_B, IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_D facing respective ones of the four sensorelectrodes SP1-1A, SP1-1_B, SP2-1_A, and SP2-1_B at their respectiveboundary sides may not be the same.

For example, in the case of the upper second sensor electrode SP2-1_A, aside of the first auxiliary electrode IMP-1_A adjacent to a firstboundary side SP2-1_BS1 of the upper second sensor electrode SP2-1_A anda side of the fourth auxiliary electrode IMP-1_D adjacent to a secondboundary side SP2-1_BS2 of the upper second sensor electrode SP2-1_A maybe different sides that are configured differently than one another.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the auxiliary electrodes may bearranged in various shapes. In addition, although not shown, the firstto fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-1_A, IMP-1_B, IMP-1_C, and IMP-1_Dmay have different shapes from each other. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the electronic device may include the auxiliary electrodeshaving various shapes and various arrangements, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5B, the sensor electrode (e.g., uppersecond sensor electrode SP2-1A), according to some exemplaryembodiments, may include boundary sides having different shapes. As anexample, for the upper second sensor electrode SP2-1_A, the firstboundary side SP2-1_BS1 and the second boundary side SP2-1_BS2 may havedifferent shapes from each other.

In the case where each of the boundary sides SP2-1_BS1 and SP2-1_BS2 ofthe upper second sensor electrode SP2-1_A have a shape engaged with anadjacent one of the auxiliary electrodes IMP-1_A and IMP-1_D, theboundary sides SP2-1_BS1 and SP2-1_BS2 of the upper second sensorelectrode SP2-1_A may have different shapes, owing to the auxiliaryelectrodes IMP-1_A and IMP-1_D.

Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, the sensor electrodes maybe designed to have various boundary sides. The shorter the distancesbetween the boundary sides of the sensor electrodes and the auxiliaryelectrodes, the larger the areas of the sensor electrodes, and, in thiscase, the touch sensitivity of the electronic device can be improved.

In some exemplary embodiments, the touch sensitivity may be affected bya sum of lengths of each of the boundary sides and a distance betweenboundary sides of the sensor electrodes facing each other. In theelectronic device according to some exemplary embodiments, at least oneside of each of the auxiliary electrodes may be provided to form aplurality of patterns, and the boundary sides of the sensor electrodesmay be designed to have a shape in contact with the patterns.Accordingly, it may be possible to improve the touch sensitivity of theelectronic device.

According to some exemplary embodiments, by variously designing theshapes of the sensor electrode and the auxiliary electrode, it may bepossible to improve touch sensitivity of the electronic device and toprevent (or at least reduce) visibility of the electronic device frombeing deteriorated. According to some exemplary embodiments, it may bepossible to provide a pleasant touch environment to a user.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views illustrating touch structures accordingto some exemplary embodiments. For convenience in illustration, in FIGS.6A and 6B, a dotted line depicts the base structure 100 on which each oftouch structures 200-1 and 200-2 is disposed. Hereinafter, an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments will be described withrespect to FIGS. 6A and 6B. For concise description, an elementpreviously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5B may be identifiedby a similar or identical reference number without repeating anoverlapping description thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, each of first sensor electrodes SP1-2 andsecond sensor electrodes SP2-2 may include a plurality of mesh linesMSL. The mesh lines MSL may include a plurality of first mesh lines MSL1and a plurality of second mesh lines MSL2.

The first mesh lines MSL1 may extend in the third direction DR3 and maybe arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the fourth directionDR4. The second mesh lines MSL2 may extend in the fourth direction DR4and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the thirddirection DR3. The first mesh lines MSL1 and the second mesh lines MSL2may be provided on the same layer to cross each other, thereby beingconnected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the first sensor electrodes SP1-2 may be connectedto each other in the first direction DR1. The first sensor electrodesSP1-2 in each row may be electrically connected to each other through afirst connecting portion (not shown). As described above, each row maycorrespond to the first sensor S1 (e.g., see FIG. 2).

The second sensor electrodes SP2-2 may be connected to each other in thesecond direction DR2. The second sensor electrodes SP2-2 in each columnmay be electrically connected to each other through the secondconnecting portion CP2. As described above, each column may correspondto the second sensor S2 (e.g., see FIG. 2).

According to some exemplary embodiments, the first sensors in respectiverows and the second sensors in respective columns may be connected to aplurality of signal lines. For instance, ones of the first sensors at aside may be connected to a first group of the first pads PD1_1 throughthe first interconnection lines SL1_1, and ones of the first sensors atan opposite side may be connected to a first group of the second padsPD1_2 through the fourth interconnection lines SL2_2.

Ones of the second sensors at a side may be connected to a second groupof first pads PD2_1 through third interconnection lines SL2_1, and onesof the second sensors at an opposite side may be connected to a secondgroup of second pads PD2_2 through second interconnection lines SL1_2.In the touch structure 200-1 according to some exemplary embodiments, aplurality of interconnection lines may be connected to a single sensor,and this may make it possible to reduce deterioration in sensitivity,which may be caused by position-dependent voltage drop of an electricalsignal.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device may beoperated in two different modes (e.g., a self-capacitance mode and amutual-capacitance mode). Here, the first or second pads included in aspecific group may be connected to a driving circuit that is differentfrom that for the first or second pads included in another group. Forexample, the first group of the first pads PD1_1 and the first group ofthe second pads PD2_1 connected to the first interconnection lines SL1_1and the third interconnection lines SL2_1 may be connected to aself-capacitance driving part, and the second group of the first padsPD1_2 and the second group of the second pads PD2_2 connected to thesecond interconnection lines SL1_2 and the fourth interconnection linesSL2_2 may be connected to a mutual-capacitance driving part.Accordingly, the touch structure 200-1 can be stably operated in both oftwo different driving modes.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of signal linesmay be connected to a single driving part or different driving parts,and thus, the electronic device may be operated in various driving oroperating modes. Accordingly, it may be possible to increase a degree offreedom in operating the electronic device, and even when there is noadditional electronic device (e.g., a switching device), it may bepossible to change the operation mode in various manners. As a result,the electronic device may have enlarged availability.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6B, the touch structure 200-2 mayinclude a sensor connected to a single signal line and another sensorconnected to a plurality of signal lines. For example, in the touchstructure 200-2, the first interconnection lines SL1_1 may be omitted,unlike the touch structure 200-1 of FIG. 6A. Similarly, in the touchstructure 200-2, one group of the first and second groups of the firstpads PD1_1 and PD2_1 may be omitted. As seen in FIG. 6B, the touchstructure 200-2, in which the first group of the first pads PD1_1 isomitted, is exemplarily illustrated.

Accordingly, the second sensors, which are arranged in the firstdirection DR1 to form the columns, may be connected to the thirdinterconnection lines SL2_1 and the second interconnection lines SL12,but the first sensors, which are arranged in the second direction DR2and consist of the first sensor electrodes SP1-2, may be connected toonly the fourth interconnection lines SL2_2. Thus, the second sensorsmay be connected to the plurality of signal lines at upper and lowersides, but the first sensors may be connected to the plurality of signallines at a side, but not at an opposite side.

Accordingly, for the second sensors with a relatively large area, aregion connected with the signal lines may be enlarged to preventregion-dependent deterioration in touch sensitivity, and thus, it may bepossible to realize a uniform touch environment. In addition, for thefirst sensors with a relatively small area, since the number of thesignal lines used for the connection is relatively small, compared withthe second sensors, it may be possible to prevent an area of theperipheral region NAA (e.g., see FIG. 1) from being increased by thesignal lines.

In some exemplary embodiments, a connection structure between the firstsensors and the signal lines may be different from that between thesecond sensors and the signal lines. Since the sensors are connected tothe signal lines in various connection manners, the electronic devicemay be operated in various manners and may be designed to have varioustouch structures. However, the inventive concepts are not limited to theabove-described examples, and for example, driving signals may beprovided to the touch structure in various manners.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of the structureshown in FIG. 6A according to some exemplary embodiments. FIGS. 7B and7C are plan views illustrating portions of the structure shown in FIG.7A according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 7D is a plan viewillustrating a portion of an electronic device according to someexemplary embodiments. For convenience in illustration and description,components provided on different layers are illustrated in FIGS. 7B and7C, respectively.

In detail, FIG. 7B illustrates components, some of which are shown inFIG. 7A and are included in a first layer A1, and FIG. 7C illustratescomponents, others of which are shown in FIG. 7A and are included in asecond layer A2 on the first layer A1. Hereinafter, one or moreexemplary embodiments will be described with respect to FIGS. 7A to 7D.For concise description, an element previously described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 6 may be identified by a similar or identical referencenumber without repeating an overlapping description thereof.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of a region, at which the first sensorelectrodes SP1-2 and the second sensor electrodes SP2-2 cross eachother, of the structure shown in FIG. 6A. A left first sensor electrodeSP1-2_A and a right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B are exemplarily shownas portions of the first sensor electrodes SP1-2, and an upper secondsensor electrode SP2-2A and a lower second sensor electrode SP2-2_B areexemplarily shown as portions of the second sensor electrodes SP2-2.

As described above, each of the first sensor electrodes SP1-2 and thesecond sensor electrodes SP2-2 may include the first mesh lines MSL1extending in a third direction DR3 and the second mesh lines MSL2extending in a fourth direction DR4. For convenience in illustration,openings TS-OP defined by the first mesh lines MSL1 and the second meshlines MSL2 are illustrated to have the same size.

Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7C, a second connecting portion CP2-1 may belocated at a level different from that of the second sensor electrodesSP2-1. In some exemplary embodiments, the second connecting portionCP2-1 may constitute the first layer A1.

The second connecting portion CP2-1 may include a first extension EX1and a second extension EX2, which are spaced apart from each other inthe first direction DR1 when viewed in a plan view. The first extensionEX1 and the second extension EX2 may be symmetric to each other withrespect to an axis extending in the second direction DR2. The firstextension EX1 and the second extension EX2 may be spaced apart from eachother with a first connecting portion CP1-1, which is provided in thesecond layer A2, interposed therebetween, and thus, the first extensionEX1 and the second extension EX2 may not be overlapped with the firstconnecting portion CP1-1.

The first extension EX1 may be overlapped with the right first sensorelectrode SP1-2_B, which is one of adjacent ones of the first sensorelectrodes SP1-2, to connect the upper second sensor electrode SP2-2Aand the lower second sensor electrode SP2-2B to each other via, forinstance, one or more connection holes (or points) CH. The secondextension EX2 may be overlapped with the left first sensor electrodeSP1-2_A, which is another of the adjacent ones of the first sensorelectrodes SP1-2, to connect the upper second sensor electrode SP2-2_Aand the lower second sensor electrode SP2-2_B to each other via, forinstance, one or more connection holes (or points) CH.

The first extension EX1 may include first, second, third, fourth, fifth,and sixth sub-extensions EX1_1, EX1_2, EX1_3, EX1_4, EX1_5, and EX1_6.The first sub-extension EX1_1 and the third sub-extension EX1_3 mayextend in the third direction DR3, and the second sub-extension EX1_2and the fourth sub-extension EX1_4 may extend in the fourth directionDR4. The first sub-extension EX1_1 and the second sub-extension EX1_2may be connected to each other, and the third sub-extension EX1_3 andthe fourth sub-extension EX1_4 may be connected to each other and may bespaced apart from the first sub-extension EX11 and the secondsub-extension EX12 in the first direction DR1.

Each of the fifth sub-extension EX1_5 and the sixth sub-extension EX1_6may connect two separate portions. The fifth sub-extension EX1_5 mayconnect the first sub-extension EX1_4 to the third sub-extension EX1_3,and the sixth sub-extension EX1_6 may connect the second sub-extensionEX1_2 to the fourth sub-extension EX1_1.

Accordingly, a plurality of sub-extensions may be connected to eachother, thereby constituting the first extension EX1 provided in the formof a single object. Meanwhile, the fifth sub-extension EX1_5 may beconnected to the first sub-extension EX1_1 and the third sub-extensionEX1_3, and the sixth sub-extension EX1_6 may be connected to the secondsub-extension EX1_2 and the fourth sub-extension EX1_4 to form anopening. The opening may correspond to the opening TS-OP formed by themesh lines MSL.

Similarly, the second extension EX2 may include the first, second,third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sub-extensions EX2_1, EX2_2, EX2_3,EX2_4, EX2_5, and EX2_6, which are connected to each other. Theconnecting of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixthsub-extensions EX2_1, EX2_2, EX2_3, EX2_4, EX2_5, and EX2_6 may beachieved in substantially the same manner as that for the first, second,third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sub-extensions EX1_1, EX1_2, EX1_3,EX1_4, EX1_5, and EX1_6 of the first extension EX1, and thus, a detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the second connecting portionCP2-1 may be provided at a layer different from that for the firstsensor electrodes SP1-2, the second sensor electrodes SP2-2, and thefirst connecting portion CP1-1. Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7C, the firstsensor electrodes SP1-2, the second sensor electrodes SP2-2, and thefirst connecting portion CP1-1 may have respective mesh shapes and mayconstitute the second layer A2.

The first connecting portion CP1-1 may be defined as a result of anextension of a portion of the first and second mesh lines MSL1 and MSL2constituting the left first sensor electrode SP1-2_A and the right firstsensor electrode SP1-2_B. In some exemplary embodiments, the firstconnecting portion CP1-1 may have a mesh shape, in which seven touch theopenings TS-OP are defined, and may have a shape extending in the firstdirection DR1.

The upper second sensor electrode SP2-2_A and the lower second sensorelectrode SP2-2_B may be spaced apart from each other with the firstconnecting portion CP1-1 interposed therebetween. The first and secondmesh lines MSL1 and MSL2 may be cut between the upper second sensorelectrode SP2-2_A and the first connecting portion CP1-1 and between thelower second sensor electrode SP2-2_B and the first connecting portionCP1-1, and thus, in the second layer A2, the upper second sensorelectrode SP2-2A, the lower second sensor electrode SP2-2_B, and thefirst connecting portion CP1-1 may be electrically disconnected fromeach other.

The first and second sensor electrodes SP1 and SP2 may include aplurality of cut portions TS-CP. In each of the left first sensorelectrode SP1-2_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B, theplurality of cut portions TS-CP may be spaced apart from each other andmay be included in the first mesh lines MSL1 or the second mesh linesMSL2, respectively. Similarly, the cut portions TS-CP may be provided inthe upper second sensor electrode SP2-2_A and the lower second sensorelectrode SP2-2_B, respectively.

In the left first sensor electrode SP1-2_A and the right first sensorelectrode SP1-2_B, there may be a region from which the touch openingsTS-OP are removed. In other words, the left first sensor electrodeSP1-2_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B may include aregion in which the first mesh lines MSL1 and the second mesh lines MSL2are removed.

Such a shape of the first sensor electrodes SP1-2 may reduce an area ofthe overlapping region between the second connecting portion CP2-1 andthe first sensor electrodes SP1-2. Accordingly, it may be possible toprevent a parasitic capacitance from being formed between the secondconnecting portion CP2-1 and the first sensor electrodes SP1-2 or toprevent a short circuit from being formed during a fabrication process.As a result, the electronic device can have improved reliability.

Referring to FIG. 7D, a second connecting portion CP2-2 may be providedin the form of a conductive pattern. In this case, when compared withthe structure provided in the form of the mesh lines MSL, the secondconnecting portion CP2-2 may have larger surface area and may have animproved conduction property. Accordingly, it may be possible to moreeffectively construct an electric connection structure between the uppersecond sensor electrode SP2-2_A and the lower second sensor electrodeSP2-2_B and to improve touch sensitivity.

Meanwhile, the second connecting portion CP2-2 may include a transparentconductive material. Accordingly, the second connecting portion CP2-2may be hardly recognized by an outside user, and it may be possible toreduce deterioration in visibility. But the inventive concepts are notlimited to this example, and the structure of the sensor electrode inthe electronic device may be variously changed.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of the electronicdevice shown in FIG. 6A according to some exemplary embodiments. FIGS.8B and 8C are enlarged plan views illustrating a region XX′ shown inFIG. 8A according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 9 is a plan viewillustrating a portion of electrode patterns shown in FIG. 8B accordingto some exemplary embodiments.

For convenience in illustration, in FIG. 8A, mesh lines are notillustrated, and in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a solid line is used to depict acutting line CL cutting the mesh lines. Also, in FIG. 8B, the cuttinglines are depicted by thick black lines for easy differentiation fromthe mesh lines, and in FIG. 8C, the auxiliary electrode IMP-2_1 isillustrated as a black shading pattern. In FIG. 9, only the auxiliaryelectrode IMP-2_1 is illustrated.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to some exemplaryembodiments will be described with respect to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 9.For concise description, an element previously described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 7D may be identified by a similar or identical referencenumber without repeating an overlapping description thereof.

A plurality of the auxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3, andIMP-2_4 may be provided between the left first sensor electrode SP1-2_Aand the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B, which are connected toeach other in the first direction DR1, and between the upper secondsensor electrode SP2-2A and the lower second sensor electrode SP2-2B,which are connected to each other in the second direction DR2. Theauxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3, and IMP-2_4 may includethe first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3, andIMP-2_4, which are arranged in a clockwise direction.

Referring to FIG. 8B, similar to the sensor electrodes SP1-2A, SP1-2_B,SP2-2A, and SP2-2_B, the first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1,IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3, and IMP-2_4 may also consist of a plurality of themesh lines MSL. In FIG. 8B, a portion of the first auxiliary electrodeIMP-2_1 is exemplarily illustrated.

Boundaries of the sensor electrodes SP1-2A, SP1-2_B, SP2-2A, and SP2-2_Band the first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3,and IMP-2_4 may be defined by the cutting line CL. The cutting line CLmay be a line connecting centers of two openings, which are adjacent toeach other with a predetermined mesh line interposed therebetween. Thecutting line CL may cut the mesh lines crossing an extension directionthereof.

Accordingly, the cutting line CL may include segments extending in anextension direction of the first mesh lines MSL1 or the second meshlines MSL2. The cutting line CL may be partially extended or bent in thethird direction DR3 or the fourth direction DR4 to define sides of thefirst auxiliary electrode IML-2_1 including a plurality of protrudingpatterns.

Referring to FIGS. 8B and 8C, the cutting line CL may define sides ofeach of the first to fourth auxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2,IMP-2_3, and IMP-2_4 and may define boundary sides of each of the sensorelectrodes SP1-2_A, SP1-2_B, SP2-2A, and SP2-2_B. For instance, thecutting line CL shown in FIG. 8B may be portions of two sides of thefirst auxiliary electrode IMP-2_1, a portion of the boundary side of theupper second sensor electrode SP2-2_A, and a portion of the boundaryside of the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the minimum width of the firstauxiliary electrode IMP-2_1 may correspond to that of one of theopenings TS-OP (e.g., see FIG. 7A) defined by the mesh lines. This maybe substantially the minimum distance between the upper second sensorelectrode SP2-2_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B. Asdescribed above, the opening TS-OP may correspond to a pixel region.Accordingly, a distance between the upper second sensor electrode SP2-2Aand the right first sensor electrode SP1-2_B may be greater than a sizeof the pixel region.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first auxiliary electrode IML-2_1 may include afirst side S1-M facing the boundary side of the right first sensorelectrode SP1-2_B and a second side S2-M facing the boundary side of theupper second sensor electrode SP2-2_A. The first side S1-M and thesecond side S2-M may be asymmetric in shape with respect to the centeraxis CX.

Each of the first side S1-M and the second side S2-M may include aplurality of protruding patterns. The first side S1-M may include firstprotruding patterns RP-M_S1 that are sequentially arranged with a firstpitch PT1-M, and the second side S2-M may include second protrudingpatterns RP-M_S2 that are sequentially arranged with a second pitchPT2-M.

The first pitch PT1-M and the second pitch PT2-M may be different fromeach other. In some exemplary embodiments, the first pitch PT1-M isillustrated to be larger than the second pitch PT2-M.

The first protruding patterns RP-M_S1 and the second protruding patternsRP-M_S2 may have shapes different from each other. In some exemplaryembodiments, each of the first protruding patterns RP-M_S1 isexemplarily illustrated to have an area larger than that of each of thesecond protruding patterns RP-M_S2. Accordingly, the first portion P1-4and the second portion P2-4 may be asymmetric in terms of their shape,and as seen in FIG. 9, the first portion P1-4 may have an area largerthan that of the second portion P2-4.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an area of each of the firstsensor electrodes SP1-2A and SP1-2_B may be larger than that of each ofthe second sensor electrodes SP2-2_A and SP2-2_B. In the case where theactive region AA (e.g., see FIG. 1) of the electronic device has arectangular shape defined by a relatively long side and a relativelyshort side (e.g., parallel to long and short axes, respectively), thefirst sensor electrodes SP1-2_A and SP1-2_B may be arranged in adirection of the short axis and may be electrodes arranged along thesecond sensor electrodes SP2-2_A and SP2-2_B. In the electronic deviceaccording to some exemplary embodiments, positions and shapes of theauxiliary electrodes IMP-2_1, IMP-2_2, IMP-2_3, and IMP-2_4 may bedesigned in such a way that an area of each of the first sensorelectrodes SP1-2_A and SP1-2_B is larger than that of each of the secondsensor electrodes SP2-2_A and SP2-2_B, and thus, it may be possible torealize a uniform sensing area in a direction of a long axis or a shortaxis.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device mayinclude auxiliary electrodes having various shapes. Also, the auxiliaryelectrodes may include a plurality of mesh lines, and in some exemplaryembodiments, shapes of the auxiliary electrodes and the sensorelectrodes may be designed using the cutting lines CL provided to cutthe mesh lines.

In some exemplary embodiments, since the auxiliary electrodes includethe mesh lines, the auxiliary electrodes may be applied to a flexibleelectronic device and may be used to realize an equivalent effect. Inthe case where the auxiliary electrodes have an asymmetric shape, theauxiliary electrodes may be realized in various shapes and in variousstructures, but the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a region of an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments. For convenience inillustration, in FIG. 10, the mesh lines are not illustrated, and asolid line is used to depict cutting lines that cut the mesh lines. Inaddition, for easy differentiation from the sensor electrodes SP1-3_A,SP1-3_B, SP2-3_A, and SP2-3_B, shading patterns are used to depictauxiliary electrodes IMP-3.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to some exemplaryembodiments will be described with respect to FIG. 10. For the sake ofbrevity, elements and features that are similar to those previouslyshown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 will not be describedin much further detail.

As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor electrodes may further include firstcutting patterns CTP1. The first cutting patterns CTP1 may be formed bycutting segments spaced apart from each other. The first cuttingpatterns CTP1 may not form isolated floating patterns. As such, in thesensor electrodes SP1-3_A, SP1-3_B, SP2-3_A, and SP2-3_B, some of themesh lines may have a region that is partially and additionally cut, buta change in area of a sensor having a conductive property may not belarge.

The auxiliary electrodes IMP-3 may further include second cuttingpatterns CTP2. The second cutting patterns CTP2 may also formpartially-cut mesh lines, but a change in total area of the auxiliaryelectrodes IMP-3 may not be large.

According to some exemplary embodiments, the electronic device mayfurther include a plurality of cutting patterns CTP1 and CTP2, whichmakes it difficult for a user to recognize boundaries between the sensorelectrodes SP1-3_A, SP1-3_B, SP2-3_A, and SP2-3_B and the auxiliaryelectrodes IMP-3. The more similar the shapes or arrangements of thefirst cutting patterns CTP1 and the second cutting patterns CTP2 is to ashape of sides of each of the auxiliary electrodes IMP-3, the moredifficult it is to distinguish the sensor electrodes SP1-3_A, SP1-3_B,SP2-3_A, and SP2-3_B from the auxiliary electrodes IMP-3. Thus, in theelectronic device according to one or more exemplary embodiments, it maybe possible to suppress or prevent the sensor electrodes SP1-3_A,SP1-3_B, SP2-3_A, and SP2-3_B from being recognized by reflection ofexternal light.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are enlarged plan views illustrating a region of anelectronic device according to some exemplary embodiments. Forconvenience in illustration and description, FIGS. 11A to 11C illustratea region corresponding to that of FIG. 8A. Hereinafter, an electronicdevice according to various exemplary embodiments will be described withrespect to FIGS. 11A to 11C. For the sake of brevity, the elements andfeatures that are similar to those previously shown and described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 10B will not be described in much furtherdetail.

As shown in FIG. 11A, at least one of the sensor electrodes may furtherinclude a floating pattern FLP. For instance, one group, which areselected from the first sensor electrodes SP1-4_A and SP1-4_B and thesecond sensor electrodes SP2-4_A and SP2-4_B may include the floatingpattern FLP, and the other group of the sensor electrodes may notinclude the floating pattern FLP. In other words, the floating patternFLP may be asymmetrically provided in either group of the first sensorelectrodes SP1-4_A and SP1-4_B and the second sensor electrodes SP2-4_Aand SP2-4_B.

As seen in FIG. 11A, each of a left first sensor electrode SP1-4_A and aright first sensor electrode SP1-4_B may include the floating patternFLP. Accordingly, an effective sensor area of each of the left firstsensor electrode SP1-4_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-4_Bmay be reduced by an area of the floating pattern FLP.

Each of a left first sensor electrode SP1-4_A and a right first sensorelectrode SP1-4_B may be divided into the floating pattern FLP and asensor part SNP. An effective sensor area of each of the left firstsensor electrode SP1-4_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-4_Bmay be substantially equal to a total area of the sensor part SNP.

Each of an upper second sensor electrode SP2-4_A and a lower secondsensor electrode SP2-4_B may not include the floating pattern FLP. Thus,each of the upper second sensor electrode SP2-4A and the lower secondsensor electrode SP2-4_B may have a single body shape. Accordingly, aneffective sensing area of each of the upper second sensor electrodeSP2-4_A and the lower second sensor electrode SP2-4_B may correspond toa total area of each of the upper second sensor electrode SP2-4_A andthe lower second sensor electrode SP2-4_B.

Meanwhile, the substantial sensor area of each of the left first sensorelectrode SP1-4_A and the right first sensor electrode SP1-4_B may besubstantially equal to an area of each of the upper second sensorelectrode SP2-4_A and the lower second sensor electrode SP2-4_B. In theelectronic device according to some exemplary embodiments, the floatingpatterns FLP may be provided to be asymmetric with respect to adjacentones of the sensor electrodes, and thus, it may be possible to equalizeareas of two adjacent ones of the sensor electrodes.

The floating pattern FLP shown in FIG. 11A may have a border FLP_BLextending in the third direction DR3 or the fourth direction DR4 andhaving a straight line shape. Here, the border FLP_BL of the floatingpattern FLP may have a shape different from that of a second side IMP-4S2 of an auxiliary electrode IMP-4.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11B, the electronic device may includethe floating pattern FLP-1 including a border FLP-1_BL having aplurality of protruding patterns. In this manner, each of the left andright first sensor electrodes SP1-5_A and SP1-5_B may be divided into asensor part SLP-1 and the floating pattern FLP-1 by the border FLP-1_BLof the floating pattern FLP-1.

A shape of the border FLP-1_BL of the floating pattern FLP-1 maycorrespond to one of two sides of an auxiliary electrode pattern IMP-5.As seen in FIG. 11B, the shape of the border FLP-BL of the floatingpattern FLP-1 may have a shape corresponding to a second side IMP-5_S2facing the upper second sensor electrode SP2-5_A adjacent thereto.Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce a visibility issue between thefloating pattern FLP-1, the sensor electrodes SP1-5_A, SP1-5_B, SP2-5A,and SP2-5_B, and the auxiliary electrode IMP_5.

As shown in FIG. 11C, a floating pattern FLP-2 may be provided inassociation with the upper and lower second sensor electrodes SP2-6_Aand SP2-6_B. Accordingly, each of the upper and lower second sensorelectrodes SP2-6_A and SP2-6_B may be divided into a sensor part SLP-2and the floating pattern FLP-2.

According to some exemplary embodiments, an auxiliary electrode IMP-6may be provided to be closer to the first sensor electrodes SP1-6_A andSP1-6_B than to the second sensor electrodes SP2-6_A and SP2-6_B. Adegree of protrusion of a first side IMP-6_S1 of the auxiliary electrodeIMP-6 toward a right first sensor electrode SP1-6_B may be greater than(or smaller than) that of a second side IMP-6_S2 of the auxiliaryelectrode IMP-6 toward an upper second sensor electrode SP2-6_A.

Areas of the upper and lower second sensor electrodes SP2-6_A andSP2-6_B may substantially correspond to areas of the sensor parts SLP-2.An area of each of the sensor parts SLP-2 may be substantially equal toan area of each of the left and right first sensor electrodes SP1-6_Aand SP1-6_B. However, the inventive concepts are not limited to theseexamples, and a position and a shape of the auxiliary electrode IMP-6may be variously changed.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the electronic devicemay include floating patterns provided at various positions, and thus,it may be possible to design various sensor electrodes. The electronicdevice may include the floating patterns, which are selectively providedin association with one of two adjacent groups of the sensor electrodes(e.g., in association with the first sensor electrodes or in associationwith the second sensor electrodes), and thus, adjacent ones of thesensor electrodes may be designed to have the same sensing area or adesired area ratio. Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, thesensor electrodes can be designed to have various sensing area ratios.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic deviceaccording to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 13A is an enlarged planview illustrating a region of the electronic device shown in FIG. 12according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 13B is a sectional viewtaken along sectional line I-I′ of FIG. 13A according to some exemplaryembodiments. Hereinafter, an electronic device according to someexemplary embodiments will be described with respect to FIGS. 12 to 13B.For concise description, an element previously described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 11C may be identified by a similar or identical referencenumber without repeating an overlapping description thereof.

As shown in FIG. 12, an electronic device 1000-2 may be configured tosense the touch TC applied from the outside and to provide the activeregion AA for displaying an image IM. In one or more exemplaryembodiments, the electronic device 1000-2 may be a touch screen device.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the electronic device 1000-2 may includea display member DM and a sensing member SM. The display member DM maybe configured to display the image IM in response to an electricalsignal applied thereto. The display member DM may include a base layerBSL, a display device DEM, and an encapsulation layer ECL.

The base layer BSL may be a base layer in which the display device DEMis provided. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the base layer BSLmay be at least one of a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a siliconsubstrate, and an insulating film. In some exemplary embodiments,although not shown, the base layer BSL may include a plurality ofdriving devices. Accordingly, the base layer BSL may include a pluralityof insulating layers and a plurality of conductive layers.

The display device DEM may be provided on the base layer BSL. Thedisplay device DEM may be connected to the driving device. The displaydevice DEM may include various devices capable of displaying the imageIM. For example, the display device DEM may include at least one of aliquid crystal capacitor, an organic light emitting device, anelectrophoresis device, or an electrowetting device. As seen in FIG.13B, an example in which an organic light emitting device is used as thedisplay device DEM is exemplarily illustrated, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto.

The display device DEM may include a first electrode layer EL1, a lightemitting layer EML, and a second electrode layer EL2. The display deviceDEM may be configured to excite the light emitting layer EML using apotential difference between the first electrode layer EL1 and thesecond electrode layer EL2, and, thereby, to generate light.

A pixel definition layer PDL, in which a plurality of openings OP aredefined, may be provided on the base layer BSL. The openings OP maydefine pixel regions PXA. The light emitting layer EML may include aplurality of light-emitting patterns provided in the pixel regions PXA,respectively.

In FIG. 13B, two pixel regions PXA1 and PXA2, which are two adjacentones of the pixel regions PXA, are exemplarily illustrated. The twopixel regions PXA1 and PXA2 may have areas different from each other,when viewed in a plan view. In one or more exemplary embodiments, thetwo pixel regions PXA1 and PXA2 may be used to display lights ofdifferent colors.

The sensing member SM may be provided on the display member DM, but theinventive concepts are not limited to this example, and in someexemplary embodiments, the sensing member SM may be provided below thedisplay member DM or on the base layer BSL of the display member DM.That is, the position of the sensing member SM may be variously changed.

The sensing member SM may be configured to sense the touch TC. Thesensing member SM may correspond to the touch structure 200 of FIG. 2.The sensing member SM may include an insulating layer IL, a plurality ofmesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B, a cover layer CVL

Although not shown, conductive patterns may be provided between theinsulating layer IL and the encapsulation layer ECL. The conductivepatterns may correspond to the second connecting portion CP2-1 (e.g.,see FIG. 7B).

The insulating layer IL may be provided to electrically separate aconductive pattern including the second connecting portion CP2-1 fromthe plurality of mesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B. Thesecond connecting portion CP2-1 may be connected to at least one of theplurality of mesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B throughcontact holes (not shown), which are formed to pass through theinsulating layer IL.

The cover layer CVL may be provided on the plurality of mesh linesMSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B to protect the plurality of meshlines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B. The cover layer CVL mayinclude at least one insulating layer.

Referring back to FIG. 13A, the plurality of mesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B,MSL2-A, and MSL2-B may be arranged to cross each other, thereby definingthe openings TS-OP. The openings TS-OP may be defined at positionscorresponding to the pixel regions PXA, and each of the openings TS-OPmay be defined to have an area larger than that of each of the pixelregions PXA. The inventive concepts, however, are not limited to thisexample, and at least one of the plurality of mesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B,MSL2-A, and MSL2-B may be provided to be overlapped with at least aportion of the pixel regions PXA.

At least one of the plurality of mesh lines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, andMSL2-B may include the cut portion TS-CP. The cut portion TS-CP may beformed by the cutting line CL (e.g., see FIG. 8B). The plurality of meshlines MSL1-A, MSL1-B, MSL2-A, and MSL2-B may constitute each of thefirst sensor electrode, the second sensor electrode, and the auxiliaryelectrode pattern by the cut portion TS-CP.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the electronic device1000-2 may be configured to display an image IM and sense the touch TCapplied from the outside. Thus, it may be possible to expand theavailability of the electronic device 1000-2.

FIG. 14A is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electronicdevice according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 14B is a timingdiagram illustrating a variation of a driving signal for operating theelectronic device shown in FIG. 14A according to some exemplaryembodiments. FIGS. 15A and 15B are block diagrams illustrating anoperation of an electronic device in a mode according to some exemplaryembodiments. FIGS. 16A and 16B are block diagrams illustrating anoperation of an electronic device in a mode according to some exemplaryembodiments. Hereinafter, an electronic device according to someexemplary embodiments will be described with respect to FIGS. 14A to16B. For concise description, an element previously described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 13B may be identified by a similar or identicalreference number without repeating an overlapping description thereof.

As shown in FIG. 14A, an electronic device 1000-3 may include a drivingcircuit 300 including a first driving part 310 and a second driving part320. The first driving part 310 may be configured to operate the touchstructure 200 in a self-capacitance mode, and the second driving part320 may be configured to operate the touch structure 200 in amutual-capacitance mode.

As shown in FIG. 14B, the first driving part 310 and the second drivingpart 320 may be alternately driven during a referent time interval TST,which is allocated for a touch sensing operation. During the referenttime interval TST, a self-capacitance sensing signal SELF of a highlevel HL may be applied to the first driving part 310 to execute a modefor sensing a self-capacitance signal. Here, the touch structure 200 maysense the touch TC in the self-capacitance mode. During the referenttime interval TST, a mutual capacitance sensing signal MUTUAL of a highlevel HL may be applied to the second driving part 320 to execute a modefor sensing a mutual-capacitance signal. Here, the touch structure 200may sense the touch TC in the mutual-capacitance mode.

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate a process of sensing the touch TC using thetouch structure 200 in a self-capacitance mode. As shown in FIG. 15A, ifthe first driving part 310 is activated, the first and second sensorelectrodes of the touch structure 200 may be synchronized as one sensorelectrode SP. Here, the sensor electrode SP may have a base capacitanceCO with respect to a predetermined ground terminal having the groundvoltage. Capacitance of the sensor electrode SP measured by ameasurement module MSR may be the base capacitance CO.

Next, if the touch TC is applied from the outside, an additionalcapacitor having a touch capacitance CT may be formed between the touchTC and the ground terminal, as shown in FIG. 15B. In this case, thecapacitance measured by the measurement module MSR may be a sum of thetouch capacitance CT and the base capacitance CO. In theself-capacitance mode, the first driving part 310 may sense which of thesensor electrodes has increased capacitance (i.e., where the touch TCoccurred).

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate a process of sensing the touch TC using thetouch structure 200 in a mutual-capacitance mode. As shown in FIG. 16A,if the second driving part 320 is activated, one of the first and secondsensor electrodes of the touch structure 200 may be used to receive adriving signal, and the other may be used to output a sensing signal. Inother words, the first and second sensor electrodes SP1 and SP2 may beoperated with different electrical signals.

For example, if a predetermined driving power Vg is applied to the firstsensor SP1 in the mutual-capacitance mode, a capacitor having a basecapacitance Cm may be formed between the first and second sensors SP1and SP2. In addition, owing to the ground terminal, a parasiticcapacitor having a parasitic capacitance Cp may be further formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16B, if the touch TC is applied from the outside,an additional capacitor having a touch capacitance CT may be formedbetween the touch TC and the ground terminal. Here, the capacitorshaving the touch and base capacitances CT and Cm may be connected inparallel to each other. Accordingly, capacitance measured by themeasurement module MSR may be smaller than the base capacitance Cm. Inthe mutual-capacitance mode, the second driving part 320 may sense whichof the sensor electrodes has lowered capacitance (i.e., where the touchTC occurred).

According to various exemplary embodiments, the electronic device may beoperated in both of the self and mutual-capacitance modes, and thismakes it possible to improve sensitivity in such a touch sensingoperation and sensibility of multi-touch events.

Furthermore, when the electronic device is operated in theself-capacitance mode, operational characteristics of the electronicdevice may be strongly affected by areas of the sensor electrodes.According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the electronic devicemay be designed to allow the first and second sensors to have the sametotal area. Accordingly, it may be possible to prevent touch sensitivityof the electronic device from being deteriorated by a difference inhorizontal and vertical lengths. Also, it may be possible to stablyoperate the electronic device in the self-capacitance mode regardless ofa shape of the electronic device, and, thus, an additional correctioncircuit for correcting a difference in area between the first and secondsensors may be omitted. This makes it possible to simplify a fabricationprocess, as well as reduce the cost of manufacturing the electronicdevice.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, even when a sensor isdeformed by a change in shape of an electronic device, it is possible tomaintain high touch sensitivity and to provide a stable touchenvironment for a user. Furthermore, according to one or more exemplaryembodiments, it is possible to prevent a boundary between sensors, whichare used to sense an external touch, from being easily recognized by auser through reflection of external light.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concepts are notlimited to such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of thepresented claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a displaymember comprising an light emitting element and an encapsulation layercovering the light emitting element; and a sensing layer disposed on theencapsulation layer and including a plurality of unit sensing areas; thesensing layer comprising: a first pattern and a second pattern spacedapart in a first direction; a conductive pattern disposed between thefirst pattern and the second pattern; a third pattern and a fourthpattern spaced apart in a second direction intersecting the firstdirection with the first pattern and second patterns interposedtherebetween; a bridge pattern connected to the third and fourthpatterns; and an auxiliary electrode comprising protrusion portionsprotruding in a direction toward a corresponding pattern, the auxiliaryelectrode disposed between an adjacent one of the first to fourthpatterns, and extending in diagonal directions intersecting each of thefirst and second directions; wherein each of the first to fourthpatterns comprises recess portions corresponding to the protrusionportions facing each other, and wherein pitches of the recess portionsincluded in each of the patterns facing each other are different fromeach other.
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: a pitchbetween the recess portions of the first pattern is the same as a pitchbetween the recess portions of the second pattern, and a pitch betweenthe recess portions of the third pattern is the same as a pitch betweenthe recess portions of the fourth pattern.
 3. The electronic device ofclaim 2, wherein: a pitch between the recess portions of each of thefirst pattern and the second pattern is smaller than a pitch between therecess portions of each of the third pattern and the fourth pattern. 4.The electronic device of claim 2, wherein a pitch between the protrusionportions protruding in a direction toward the first pattern and thesecond pattern among the protrusion portions is smaller than a pitchbetween protrusion portions protruding in a direction toward the thirdpattern and the fourth pattern.
 5. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein each of the first to fourth patterns comprises a first sidefacing the different pattern and a second side facing the first side ofthe different pattern, and in the same pattern, a pitch of the recessportions included in the first side and a pitch of the recess portionsincluded in the second side are different from each other.
 6. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein an area of each of the firstpattern and the second pattern is larger than an area of each of thethird pattern and the fourth pattern.
 7. The electronic device of claim1, wherein the auxiliary electrode comprises first and second portionsseparated by a central axis extending in the diagonal direction andfacing the corresponding patterns, and the area of the first portion isdifferent from the area of the second portion.
 8. The electronic deviceof claim 7, wherein a sum of the area of the first portion and the areaof the pattern facing the first portion is substantially equal to a sumof the area of the second portion and the area of the pattern facing thesecond portion.
 9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein an area ofeach of the protrusion portions disposed in the first portion is smallerthan an area of each of the protrusion portions disposed in the secondportion.
 10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe first to fourth patterns comprises: a sensor part adjacent to theauxiliary electrode; and a floating pattern spaced apart from theauxiliary electrode with the sensor part disposed therebetween, and thefloating pattern being electrically disconnected from the sensor part.11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first to fourthpatterns, the conductive pattern, and the auxiliary electrode eachcomprises a plurality of mesh lines extending in a direction crossingeach other, a boundary between the first to fourth patterns and theauxiliary electrode is defined by an imaginary cutting line connectingcut portions of the plurality of the mesh lines.
 12. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation layer comprises a firstinorganic layer in contact with the light emitting element, a secondinorganic layer disposed on the first inorganic layer, and an organiclayer disposed between the first inorganic layer and the secondinorganic layer.
 13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein thesensing layer comprises a first insulating layer disposed directly onthe first inorganic layer and on which the bridge pattern is disposed,and a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer andon which the first to fourth patterns, the conductive pattern, and theauxiliary electrode are disposed.
 14. The electronic device of claim 13,wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are connected to thebridge pattern through a contact hole passing through the secondinsulating layer.
 15. The electronic device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a self-capacitance measuring circuit configured to measure achange in self-capacitance of each of the first pattern, the secondpattern, the third pattern, and the fourth pattern; and amutual-capacitance measuring element configured to measure a change inmutual-capacitance between the first to fourth patterns.